Izushi Sara-Soba

Izushi sara-soba is a specialty of the Izushi area of Toyooka in Hyogo, in which soba is served on small white porcelain plates and stacked up as you eat. Five plates make one portion, and by varying the broth poured from a tokkuri flask and the condiments little by little, you can enjoy it to the last without tiring. Together with the castle-town streetscape of Izushi, it is a regional taste that draws many visitors.

Highlights

The charm of Izushi sara-soba is enjoying the shifts in flavor as you change condiments. Beginning with scallion and wasabi, then adding grated yam or raw egg, the soba grows mellow as if it were another dish entirely. Many shops insist on the three freshnesses of freshly milled, freshly cut, and freshly boiled, letting you savor the fragrant, true taste of soba. The beautiful white Izushi porcelain pleases the eye as well.

Enjoying the Seasons

Soba is most fragrant in autumn, when the new-harvest crop appears. A plate enjoyed in this season of bounty is exceptional. In winter, pausing for a comforting cup of warm soba-yu while touring the snow-dusted castle town is a fine pleasure. In spring and summer, you can enjoy smooth, refreshing soba while strolling streets wrapped in vivid green.

Access and Basic Information

Izushi is conveniently reached by car from central Toyooka, well located for access from the Kinosaki Onsen and Toyooka Station areas. More than forty soba shops line the streets in town, making comparison tasting fun. It is a dish to enjoy alongside a castle-town walk, with sights such as the Izushi castle ruins and the Shinkoro clock tower.

A Quick Tip

Locals say that a stack of plates as tall as a standing chopstick is the measure of one portion for an adult man. Some shops record your plate count as a soba-lovers badge, so why not give it a try.